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The African Child

Name: The African Child
Director: Laurent Chevallier
Released: 1995
Duration: 92 min

Representation Score

5.7/10

Fair

1995

Director

Laurent Chevallier

Runtime

92 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The African Child serves as a vital piece of regional cinema that disrupts the Western-centric gaze. By centering the story in Kouroussa and Conakry, it provides a platform for Guinean ability to act and localized storytelling. While the film succeeds in racial and cultural authenticity, it lacks explicit exploration of LGBTQ+ or neurodivergent identities. The narrative follows traditional familial and social structures without delving into alternative gender hierarchies.

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Category Breakdown

Does The African Child have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film focuses on a traditional family structure involving a father, mother, and uncle. There are no explicit mentions of LGBTQ+ identities or non-binary gender roles.

How does The African Child portray gender?

Fair

The story features a balanced domestic unit with both a gifted father and a sweet mother. The mother plays a significant role in the protagonist's foundational development.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The African Child?

Excellent

The narrative excels by centering on a non-Western, non-white majority. By focusing on Guinea, the film provides high ability to act to characters within their own socio-cultural context.

How does The African Child represent religion and culture?

Good

The film offers a study of regional development through a journey from a rural village to a capital city. It moves away from Western-centric storytelling patterns.

Does The African Child include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no mention of characters with visible or invisible disabilities within the narrative.

Present on Screen

Provides a non-Western, non-Anglo-Saxon centric narrative.
Offers high ability to act to characters within their own socio-cultural context.
Challenges the dominance of Western narrative structures through regional authenticity.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-binary gender roles.
Provides no visible or invisible disability representation.
Does not explicitly detail the subversion of traditional gender hierarchies.

Official Synopsis

In Kouroussa, his native village, little Baba lives happily, between Madou, his father, a gifted mechanic, Kouda, his sweet mother, and his gang of pals. Kouroussa is a wonderful place where Baba learns about life. But like all little boys Baba grows and now he is old enough to continue his studies in Conakry. He must say farewell to his village and cross all Guinea to the capital city of Guinea to live with his uncle.

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